13 terrible proposal ideas that will almost definitely get you a 'no'

Proposing can be a nerve-racking experience. You lay out all your sentiments and feelings, get down on one knee, and ask the biggest question you might ever ask in your entire life. And you can still get rejected.

To better your odds of getting a 'yes,' avoid any of these overdone proposals and opt for something more unique. While these may have been the start of many amazing marriages in the past, they've long since become something of a bad cliché.

1. Asking at a sports arena.

Say no to jumbotrons, game signs, and kiss cams.
Joe Robbins/Getty

Unless your partner is a die-hard (and I mean DIE-HARD) fan of the team whose stadium you're in, this proposal deserves a hard no.

First of all, if your partner doesn't say yes you will give the entire stadium second-hand embarrassment and it will end up on YouTube. Secondly if they do say yes, do you really want everyone (including your new fiancé) to return their attention to the game seconds after you've just had one of the biggest moments of your life?

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2. Using a flash mob.

Leave flash mobs to the kids.
Tatyana Makeyeva/Reuters

Flash mobs had their 15 minutes of fame and yes, it was great, but the moment has passed. Unless you somehow turn the flash mob into something no one has seen before, then ditch this idea and do literally anything else.

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3. Popping the question on Valentine's Day.

Valentine's Day might be romantic but it's not the be-all end-all of love.
AP Photo/Anjum Naveed

First things first, if you do this at a restaurant, it will show up every other happy couple in the room and you don't want to be the reason couples start fighting on Valentine's Day, do you?

Valentine's Day already gives you a reason to celebrate. If you ask on a random day rather than February 14, you'll get to add another celebration to your calendar. That makes popping bottles appropriate on one extra day every year.

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4. Putting the ring in food.

This is a health hazard.
Anastasia Nasirova/Shutterstock

Don't risk choking the love of your life for a sweet surprise. If you make the ring very obvious, that's one thing, but hiding it in a cake where it can easily be missed and swallowed will turn your fairy tale evening into a night spent in the emergency room.

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5. Asking right in front of the castle at Disneyland or Disney World.

Disney's theme parks are magical, fun places to pop the question if (and only if) you know without a doubt that it's something your partner would love. Even then, just know that your special moment will be surrounded with tacky tourists who do not care and will not get out of the way for pictures.

6. Similarly, asking in Times Square.

If you think Disney is overrun with tacky tourists, then you've never seen Times Square.

Unlike the theme park though, there is no magic at all. Instead there are bright flashing ads, obnoxious street performers, and the cheesiest restaurants and stores you could imagine. Doesn't sound very romantic, huh?

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7. Popping the question at someone else's wedding.

Hopefully it's obvious that if you do want to pop the question at someone else's wedding, you ask the bride and groom first. However, even if they do give you the go ahead, you might want to consider coming up with any other way.

Not only is this a little selfish, it's also awkward for the other guests who will surely not know what's going on or whether or not the bride and groom have approved. People will be shocked — and not in a good way.

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8. Using any form of social media or a text.

Believe it or not, this is real and has happened. Deadmau5 proposed to Kat Von D with a tweet back in 2012 and many have followed suit. This impersonal way of asking is not only lazy, it's boring. If you and your partner are in love with social media, or maybe even met on one of the sites, there are far better ways to incorporate it.

9. Asking at a family party.

Family comes first, but maybe this once you they can come second.jacoblund/iStock

Popping the question at a big family event is a dangerous choice. While the thought is nice, it's better said than done. If your partner ends up saying no, your entire family will be there to witness it. If they say yes, then they're all there hugging and congratulating you right away.

After finding out that you're going to spend the rest of your life with someone you love, you (and your partner) might value some alone time to celebrate and cherish the moment.

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10. Buying plane banners, billboards, or skywriting that ask for you.

Don't be a cliché.
Eloy Alonso/Reuters

Having your love written for everyone to see might seem like a romantic gesture, but it's really just cheesy. Wouldn't you rather be the one popping the question instead of an inanimate object?

Plus, how awkward if they see it and think that it's for someone else with the same name.

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11. Asking in front of the Eiffel Tower.

Paris has a lot more to offer than the Eiffel Tower.
Reuters/Charles Platiau

Paris is one of the most romantic places on earth, so why would you pick the Eiffel Tower — the biggest tourist destination in the city — for your big moment?

Instead, try finding another romantic spot in the City of Lights and pop the question there.

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12. Using something like a Starbucks cup or a generic Taco Bell sauce packet.

It's easy to have a barista at Starbucks write in sloppy handwriting or use one of the mass-produced sauce packets that Taco Bell serves to pop the question, but it won't come across as very well thought out.

13. Faking a death or accident.

Faking an accident isn't fun for anyone.
Flickr / Creative Commons

Unfortunately, this actually happens. People have faked seizures, car accidents, and hospital visits all for the sake of an elaborate proposal. Too bad there's not a single person in the world that would find this funny or romantic. You'll give your partner the fright of their life, and for that you might just deserve a 'no.'

And while we're at it, pro tip: this isn't a good April Fool's Day prank either.